Russian Deputy Foreign Minister: The possibility of Russia and the United States extending the "New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty" is approaching zero

　　China News Agency, Moscow, May 31 (Reporter Wang Xiujun) Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov said in an interview with the US National Interest magazine on the 30th that the possibility of Russia and the United States extending the "New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty" Is tending to zero.

　　Ryabkov said that the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty will expire on February 5, 2021. The possibility of extending this treaty is quickly approaching zero. It is too late to wait until the US election to resolve this issue.

　　Ryabkov said that he cannot understand the "anti-Russian consensus" between the two parties in the United States. No matter which side of the two parties wins the election, it will not bring about improvement in Russia-US relations.

　　Ryabkov said that current Russia-US relations are moving from one low to another. A prominent manifestation of the deterioration of relations between the two sides is in the field of arms control. The United States does not believe that cooperation with Russia in the field of arms control will be effective, and believes that the arms control agreement signed with Russia constrains its interests. The United States is constantly seeking excuses to withdraw as many arms control treaties as possible.

　　Libuyakov said that the current development of Russia-US relations is unpredictable, which is different from the Cold War period. The confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union was more dangerous during the Cold War, but then the development of relations between the two countries was more predictable.

　　The "New Strategic Weapon Reduction Treaty" was signed by the leaders of Russia and the United States in 2010 and entered into force on February 5, 2011, with a validity period of 10 years. The treaty stipulates that the two countries must comprehensively reduce the number of nuclear warheads and missiles deployed during the Cold War, and reduce the number of nuclear warheads to 1,550 after the treaty entered into force seven years ago (in 2018). Reduced to 800, of which the number of deployed nuclear warhead delivery vehicles should not exceed 700.

　　The US government had previously withdrawn from the "Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty", ceased to participate in the Iranian nuclear agreement, withdrew from the "Central Guidance Treaty", and announced that it would withdraw from the "Open Sky Treaty." The "New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty" has become the only effective arms control treaty between Russia and the United States. (Finish)